Change of provider of Biochemistry automated platform

02/12/2021 – Biochemistry have now moved to the Beckman automated equipment for routine analysis. Comments have been added to reports and significant changes in reference ranges noted.

A communication was sent out with more details prior to this change. Please contact the Biochemistry laboratory for more information

Andrology Service has now moved to Birmingham Womens Hospital.

The Worcestershire Cellular Pathology services, provided by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT), is no longer a CPA / UKAS accredited provider for Andrology services, consequently  WAHT has had to review its position with regard to its approach to provision of this service for the future. To bring the current service at WAHT up to the levels required by CPA/UKAS accreditation would require a level of investment and training that is prohibitively expensive.

In consultation with the Worcestershire CCGs we have reviewed the options available in terms of sourcing a new provider for these services, who is fully accredited and willing to take on the work; the outcome of that review has identified Birmingham Women’s Hospital as the most suitable provider for the future. This change is a necessary one and is in line with what is happening nationally with Andrology testing where they are moving towards fewer larger specialised laboratories covering wider geographical areas.

In conjunction with the Trust management and the Worcestershire CCGs it has been decided that the new provider will take over the service from February 1^st 2017.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust will no longer accept samples for this service.

In terms of referring to Birmingham Women’s Hospital , all relevant documents are available in the links below:

BWH Semen Analysis and Post Vasectomy Referral Pathway

BWH Semen Analysis Referral Form

BWH Post Vasectomy Referral Form

Semen Analysis Patient Information Leaflet

Post Vasectomy Patient Information Leaflet

New UKAS accredited centralised Cellular Pathology Laboratory at WRH

The cellular pathology department have formed a new UKAS accredited centralised pathology laboratory at WRH, opening on Monday 13 June.

From Monday 13 June, all specimens should be sent to the WRH Laboratory. No specimens will be received at the Alex as the diagnostic cellular pathology services will be closing there on Friday 10 June.

The department have put measures in place to ensure the current level of service is maintained.

Frozen section services will still be available at both sites but must be pre-booked. Bookings can be made by calling ext. 39625.

The drop-in FNA service that runs in the pathology department at WRH from Monday to Friday will continue to operate and additional ward visits for FNAs can be arranged.

We are confident that the move will help to improve the quality and efficiency of the service and ultimately provide our patients with a better quality of care.

If you have any questions or queries please contact the laboratory directly on ext. 39625.

New Containers to be used for Urine Culture in Microbiology

 Following audit and review of practices within the Microbiology Department, we have taken the decision to move over to Urine monovette containers with Boric acid for Microscopy & culture of Urines. These will replace the Red topped Boric acid universal containers you currently use.

This was identified as a necessary quality improvement within microbiology to reduce the number of rejected low volume urine samples and the false negative cultures associated with higher concentration of boric acid in lower volume samples, improve efficiency as well as reducing error through additional handling steps.

 You will begin to see the monovettes with associated urine collection cups being sent out in the coming months in place of your boric acid urine containers. Please finish your current stocks of Universals before moving on to the Monovettes. We will also continue to supply the universals until our stocks are exhausted.

 Another version of the monovette container (non boric acid – yellow label) is already in use for Clinical Chemistry urines. Training will already have been provided, but the Manufacturer Sarstedt will be offering further on-site training as well as leaflets describing the collection process.

 Your Sarstedt Contact is James Mobberley (Tel 07970 220114)

 Please order containers for the appropriate sample types for sending to the Laboratory. The Laboratory will not send out containers for non-laboratory associated tests performed in the surgery.

 For routine microscopy & Culture please use a monovette

• Mid stream urine (MSU)
• Catheter sample of urine (CSU) – should be collected from the urinary catheter port, NEVER from the urine bag.

For other urinary investigations (except TB) and fluid samples use a plain universal

• Urine collected from nephrostomy, Suprapubic aspirate, bag urine from infants
• Urine for antigen detection (e.g. Legionella), Virology
• Sputa, pus, fluids
• urine bag.

For other urinary investigations for TB use 250ml container